Happy New Year from a Soon-to-be 60-Something...
Happy New Year of the Dragon, aka my 60th Year! Holy Moses, did I just say that? Um, yes I did. Egads.
So, what shall we do this year, in order to keep feeling that life is Worthwhile? Shall we take Sabalah's Songmap on the road, or stick with northern European islands? I want to go Somewhere this year, if only to check out Open Mic venues across the west coast. I've finally decided to by-golly do it, whether in a Circular pattern of travel, or in round trips between Seattle and Wherever. The circular route might well be Cheaper.
UPDATE (FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2024): I figure an open mic tour of this state basically entails making copies of a CD (at least EP edition), at least 100 or so copies. And then, pick out some Likely towns and cities, and look up their open mic venues, on OpenMikes.org or Elsewhere. Look up and/or contact Said venues, to verify their open mic dates, times, and guidelines; and then head on Out, guitar and CDs in hand. Sounds straightforward Enough.
Some sad news from Colville: One of my Aunt's cats has had to be put Down just Today, due to generally Fatal urinary tract issues. His name was Lagan (pronounced LAH-gan), a sweet, very Shy, handsome little gray tabby guy, only about 4 or 5 years of age. He's survived other things in the past, Including being Treed by some larger creature for four days; so I figured he must be pretty Tough. Unfortunately, he developed this condition on top of also having worms; and perhaps his immune system was Compromised. Alas, but may he travel on in Peace to the Rainbow Bridge, and await my aunt's arrival. I'll have to see if I have any photos of Lagan from the past couple of Christmases.
I'm thinking I may have alienated some folks over on Facebook due to my Frequent posts sympathetic to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, which some people tend to interpret as Antisemitic (and it's been very Difficult to convince them Otherwise). I don't know how many times I have to explain this; but I have absolutely NO issues with Jewish people, the Jewish faith or culture, or Israel's mere existence. I also do NOT sympathize with Hamas, or any other terrorist organization or party; they do nothing but cause trouble, Including and Especially towards the people they claim to represent. My issues are with the Extreme cruelty with which Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank have been treated recently, and often in the Recent past: by the Netanyahu government (which considers itself well Above international law and the World Courts, among other entities); by the actions of the Israeli military, which completely contradict their own Public statements; and by Certain far-right groups of so-called settlers in Illegal outposts on the West Bank perimeter (who tend to be complete dicks at the best of times). I don't know if this will clarify my views to anyone's satisfaction; but all I can do is try, and hope. It's just that, having seen Graphic examples of what was going On in Gaza, I simply couldn't NOT say and post something. This situation has kept me Awake many nights, and I have no Direct involvement with any of it. I just hope the ICJ will deliver some measure of justice, both to Palestinian civilians, and to the families of Israeli hostages who are still Unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, on with the Tour-Planning exercises...
So, what shall we do this year, in order to keep feeling that life is Worthwhile? Shall we take Sabalah's Songmap on the road, or stick with northern European islands? I want to go Somewhere this year, if only to check out Open Mic venues across the west coast. I've finally decided to by-golly do it, whether in a Circular pattern of travel, or in round trips between Seattle and Wherever. The circular route might well be Cheaper.
UPDATE (FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2024): I figure an open mic tour of this state basically entails making copies of a CD (at least EP edition), at least 100 or so copies. And then, pick out some Likely towns and cities, and look up their open mic venues, on OpenMikes.org or Elsewhere. Look up and/or contact Said venues, to verify their open mic dates, times, and guidelines; and then head on Out, guitar and CDs in hand. Sounds straightforward Enough.
Some sad news from Colville: One of my Aunt's cats has had to be put Down just Today, due to generally Fatal urinary tract issues. His name was Lagan (pronounced LAH-gan), a sweet, very Shy, handsome little gray tabby guy, only about 4 or 5 years of age. He's survived other things in the past, Including being Treed by some larger creature for four days; so I figured he must be pretty Tough. Unfortunately, he developed this condition on top of also having worms; and perhaps his immune system was Compromised. Alas, but may he travel on in Peace to the Rainbow Bridge, and await my aunt's arrival. I'll have to see if I have any photos of Lagan from the past couple of Christmases.
I'm thinking I may have alienated some folks over on Facebook due to my Frequent posts sympathetic to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, which some people tend to interpret as Antisemitic (and it's been very Difficult to convince them Otherwise). I don't know how many times I have to explain this; but I have absolutely NO issues with Jewish people, the Jewish faith or culture, or Israel's mere existence. I also do NOT sympathize with Hamas, or any other terrorist organization or party; they do nothing but cause trouble, Including and Especially towards the people they claim to represent. My issues are with the Extreme cruelty with which Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank have been treated recently, and often in the Recent past: by the Netanyahu government (which considers itself well Above international law and the World Courts, among other entities); by the actions of the Israeli military, which completely contradict their own Public statements; and by Certain far-right groups of so-called settlers in Illegal outposts on the West Bank perimeter (who tend to be complete dicks at the best of times). I don't know if this will clarify my views to anyone's satisfaction; but all I can do is try, and hope. It's just that, having seen Graphic examples of what was going On in Gaza, I simply couldn't NOT say and post something. This situation has kept me Awake many nights, and I have no Direct involvement with any of it. I just hope the ICJ will deliver some measure of justice, both to Palestinian civilians, and to the families of Israeli hostages who are still Unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, on with the Tour-Planning exercises...